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Chunks of savoury chicken. A mound of glistening noodles. A neat arrangement of matchstick carrots, zucchini slices, crunchy sprouts and leafy greens, all served on a bed of fluffy white rice. A fried egg on top, the bright yellow yolk still jiggling, and garnished with slices of seaweed.

It could only be a bibimbap.

And this Korean comfort food, which comes steaming in a stone bowl, is one of Casey Elliot’s favourite dishes.

At least twice a month, Elliot heads to Ho Su Bistro, a busy, bustling restaurant on Queen St. W. that offers dozens of menu items, from Korean barbecue to noodle soups to Japanese bento box combos.

“I first went with a friend who used to live in Korea, and she said you couldn’t get a more authentic bibimbap,” Elliot recalls. “After I tried it, I was hooked.”

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The substantial meal comes with an appetizer of miso soup and a small lettuce salad.

Elliot asked The Dish to find out how her much-loved bibimbap fared when it came to calories.

“It has a lot of vegetables. In Korea, it’s considered a healthy dish. But you never know …”

The version served at Ho Su Bistro clocks in at 1,183 calories and 30 grams of fat. (Along with the entree, the lab results include the accompanying miso soup and salad, and two tablespoons of chili sauce.)

Elliot sighed when she heard the calorie count.

“I was hoping it would be less, but I’m not surprised,” she said, admitting the meal is extremely filling.

But it’s the 3,328 mg of sodium — 1,000 mg more than the maximum recommended daily allotment — that makes her gasp.

“That’s why it tastes so good!”

Registered dietitian Carol Harrison is equally shocked by the sodium-laced dish. She points out the 3,328 mg is the equivalent to adding 83 shakes of salt to your meal.

“Would you ever stand at home and cook something with so much salt?” she asks. “This is perfect example of why we need menu labelling in restaurants. It’s not fair to leave people in the dark about the sodium content of dishes.”

One easy way to eliminate some sodium in this entree is to skip the appetizers and be very judicious when adding sauce. Harrison says the miso soup and the salad dressing are likely riddled with salt.

“Also, try tasting your food before adding any sauces,” Harrison says. “Add a little sauce, then taste again, and continue until you get to where you enjoy your food. That might be half your usual amount of sauce, or less.”

The meal’s 1,183 calories is more than should be consumed in one sitting. So, as always, Harrison suggests splitting it — either with your dining companion or by taking half home for your next day’s lunch.

And lastly, for those who hate splitting but want to cut out some calories, Harrison recommends asking for less rice in a dish like bibimbap.

“It’s easy for restaurants to pile your plate with rice, and they often give us more than we need. A good rule of thumb is to eat a fist-sized portion of carbohydrates.”

On average, one cup of steamed white rice served at an Asian restaurant contains 210 calories. This particular meal comes with nearly 2 ½ cups of rice.

Despite the big nutrition numbers, Elliot is happy to know just how many calories and how much sodium she gets in the bibimbap. That knowledge won’t stop her from digging in.

“But I will keep in mind that it’s a treat, and not something healthy to eat every day.”

Verdict: The sodium soaking this entree takes away from its array of fresh, colourful vegetables.

DOLSOT CHICKEN BIBIM BOP

Restaurant: ho su bistro

Location: 254 queen st. W., one of two toronto locations

Price: $9.95

Dolsot chicken bibim bop, topped with two tablespoons of spicy chili sauce, and served with miso soup and small green salad

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